Encore August 2022

Singer-songwriter Kait Rose

Membership-based health care

August 2022

Making Lakes Healthy John Tucci is the master of muck

Lucky Girl Brewing & B52 Winery

Meet Rob Oakleaf

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

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2 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

ENCORE EDITOR'S NOTE

From the Editor Whoa! Slow down there, summer!

It seems unbelievable — and unfair, frankly — that in just a few weeks kids will be back in school, vacations will end, and we will be staring down another Michigan autumn and its march toward ... well, you know. Wasn't it just June?

To help keep summer from slipping through our fingers too quickly, several of our stories this month keep that sunny, summer feeling going.

One of the glories of Michigan summers is the abundance of lakes and rivers to cool off and relax in. Our cover story on EverBlue Lakes focuses on the work John Tucci's company is doing to restore the health of inland lakes large and small.

There's still time left this summer to do a little craft beverage exploring, and one unique place to do that is at Lucky Girl Brewing Crossroads and the B52 Winery, next to each other at the northwest intersection of M-43 and M-40 in Van Buren County. Writer Julie Smith talks with owner Jeff Wescott about his establishments' decor homage to World War II, specifically the winery's focus on female pilots of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program.

We also have several interesting profiles in this issue. Writer Katie Houston talks with local singer-songwriter Kait Rose, who will release her latest album, Balance, this month. We also meet physician assistant Jenny Opdycke and Dr. Marti Peters-Sparling, whose medical practice, Southwest Michigan Health Matters, takes a holistic approach to patient care. Finally, in our Back Story we spotlight Rob Oakleaf, who has taken the helm of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Knowing we are in the waning days of the season that so many of us wait for all year, we encourage you to take time to savor it and the great stories in this month's issue. Enjoy!

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Singer-songwriter Kait Rose

Membership-based health care

Lucky Girl Brewing & B52 Winery

August 2022

Meet Rob Oakleaf

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

Making Lakes Healthy John Tucci is the master of muck

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CONTENTS

A u g u s t 2022

FEATURE Healthy Lakes Again, Naturally 18 EverBlue Lake Solutions' natural methods restore waterways large and small

DEPARTMENTS 3 From the Editor 6 Contributors 8 First Things

A round–up of happenings in SW Michigan 10 Five Faves

Spots to wander among a sea of sunflowers

12 Enterprise

Avoiding ‘Assembly Line’ Medicine — Personalized patient care is at the heart of this practice

15 Savor

Nostalgic Nod — World War II and female pilots are themes of Lucky Girl taproom and B52 Winery

34 Back Story

Meet Rob Oakleaf — Building a better community at the helm of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity

T heArts

21

23 24 25 26 26 On the Cover: John Tucci on site at Lake LeAnn in Jerome, Michigan, where his company EverBlue Lake Solutions is doing work. Photo by Brian K. Powers

Kait Rose

The singer-songwriter's new album reflects her life as mom and artist

Theater Music Visual Arts Literature Poetry

"Dew Point 65 at 7 a.m." by Susan Blackwell Ramsey

27 Events of Note

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 5

CONTRIBUTORS ENCORE

Chris Killian

Katie Houston Katie Houston, a Kalamazoo-based writer and communications consultant, says she was glad to learn more about membership-based health care from the women at the helm of Southwest Michigan Health Matters. She also enjoyed learning how Kait Rose has balanced motherhood with a long career as a singer-songwriter. This month the local musician releases a new album at Bell's Eccentric Cafe.

Julie Smith

Chris was interested in the approach John Tucci and his EverBlue Lake Solutions company are taking to help restore lakes in Michigan and across the country. "Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes, and many, many of those lakes are plagued with the kind of pollution and runoff that EverBlue remedies,” Chris says. “It's a great hope for the future health of these beautiful natural resources." Chris is an award-winning freelance writer.

When Julie wrote a profile on singer and entrepreneur Lana Hoffman for our February issue, she learned for the first time of Lucky Girl Brewing Crossroads, where Hoffman often performs. "I had to check this place out for myself," Julie says. "I loved its theme on World War II but was really intrigued by owner Jeff Wescott's homage to Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, in the new B52 Winery,” next door to Lucky Girl. “I like that you can learn something about history while you're having a drink." Julie is a Plainwell-based freelance writer.

6 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

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FIRST THINGS ENCORE

First Things Something Old

Vicksburg market offers vintage wares Whether

you’re just feeling nostalgic or looking for that refurbished mid-century modern table for your home, you might find just what you want at the Vicksburg Vintage Market, set for Aug. 21 at the Vicksburg Pavilion, 300 N. Richardson St. This seasonal market, which runs from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month May through September, will feature vendors selling wares from antique toys and books to jewelry, glassware, furniture and one-of-a kind items.

For more information, visit the market's Facebook page at facebook. com/Vicksburg-Vintage-Market.

Something Festive

Animals, magic and more at Youth Fair Do you like seeing farm animals and watching horse shows? Then

visit the Kalamazoo County Youth Fair, which runs from Aug.10–13 at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground, 2900 Lake St. The four-day fair will focus on 4-H programs and agricultural education, featuring the showing and judging of animals from rabbits and poultry to goats, pigs and beef cattle. The fair will also include horse dressage and jumping competitions, a display of antique farm equipment, a livestock auction and food vendors.

The last day of the fair will offer a Family Festival, featuring pony rides, inflatables, a dog show, a goat obstacle course, hands-on educational activities and a kids’ entertainment stage with magic shows and more.

Admission Wednesday–Friday is $5 per vehicle or $2 a person for walkins and vehicles with more than 8 people and $15 per person or $5 person for walk-ins and vehicles with more than 8 people on Saturday. Children aged 5 and younger are admitted free.

8 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

Something Saucy Rib Fest returns

There's more to Rib Fest than just those saucy slivers of

meat. Pop and rock artists will satisfy those with an appetite for music.

Rib Fest will take place from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6 at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place, in downtown Kalamazoo. It will feature 11 national and local rib vendors and their secret sauces as the vendors compete for top honors.

On the music menu at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 is Pop 2000 Tour, featuring such 2000 musical artists as the boy band O-Town, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, and David Cook. Performing on Aug. 6 will be two rock bands — Puddle of Mudd at 11 a.m. and Sister Hazel at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $12– $50 and available online at kalamazooribfest. com. They will also be sold at the event.

Something New

Parade of Homes shows 10 new houses You can see the latest trends in homebuilding

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when 10 new houses and one remodeled house are featured in the annual Parade of Homes for two weekends this month.

The tour, sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan and scheduled for Aug. 4–6 and Aug. 11–13, will feature single-family homes built by eight builders across Kalamazoo County, including lakefront, condominium and urban residences.

The hours for the tour are 6–9 p.m. Aug. 4, 5, 11 and 12 and 1–7 p.m. Aug. 6 and 13. Tickets are $8 until Aug. 4 or $10 after that date and available online at tinyurl.com/KalPOH. They will also be sold during the Parade at each of the homes. The Parade also features an online guidebook and app, which can be found on the website.

Something Historic

Walks offer local history History and architecture buffs — or folks just wanting a

little interesting exercise — can learn as they stroll during the Gazelle Sports Historic Walks this month.

Lynn Houghton — regional history curator for the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collection, co-author of Kalamazoo Lost & Found and frequent Encore contributor — will lead these walking tours, sharing with participants the history and architecture of the locales. The walks take place rain or shine unless severe weather is predicted. This month's tours will focus on: • T he Milwood neighborhood, 8–9:30 a.m. Aug. 5, beginning at Miles Avenue and Portage Street.

• T he West Main Historic District, 6:30–8 p.m. Aug. 11, beginning at the corner of Monroe Street and Grand Avenue.

• The Schoolcraft Township Cemetery, 8–9:30 a.m. Aug. 25, beginning at U.S .131 and West Lyons Street in Schoolcraft.

• Kalamazoo libraries, 8–9:30 a.m. Aug. 26, beginning at Gazelle Sports, 214 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

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For more information, including a full schedule of the series’ tours, visit tinyurl.com/ Augwalks.

Please note: Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, some of these events may be cancelled or changed after press time. Please check with venues and organizations for up-to-date information.

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FIVE FAVES ENCORE

Five Faves

Spots to wander among a sea of sunflowers

Marisa Iceberg

BY ENCORE STAFF

B

right, salad-plate-sized harbingers of summer, sunflowers have long been a staple of farmers-market bouquets. But in more recent years, people have sought to commune with these towering petalled beauties by visiting the fields where they grow during peak blooming season, which happens to be this month. The popularity of these flowers has attracted photo seekers, families and others who love a good bloom, perhaps because, as author Corina Abdulahm-Negura has said, “A sunflower field is like a sky with a thousand suns.” Here are five spots in in our region to walk among the golden cheeriness: 10 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

Bremer Produce

5845 48th Ave., Hudsonville

If you've ever wondered what hundreds

of thousands of sunflowers look like, then a visit to Bremer Produce will show you.

The farm regularly plants more than 30,000 seeds of 12 types of sunflowers, and the result is an acre-and-a-half sea of sunshine.

The farm is U-pick; flowers are $1 each, and the season runs until mid-September.

Farm hours are 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Visit bremerproduce.com for updates and more information.

Gull Meadow Farms 8544 Gull Road, Richland

Richland's

Gull Meadow Farms, which grows more than two dozen sunflower varieties on five acres, is a convenient jaunt from Kalamazoo. During Sunflower Days, held on weekends in August, the fields are open to visitors. Tickets are $14.99, or free for children under 36 inches tall, and include admission to the sunflower fields, one flower to take home, and family activities. Visit gullmeadowfarms.com for updates on peak blooming times.

Gorby Sunflowers 2426 30th St., Allegan

What

happens when you plant a sunflower to brighten up your world? Well, as the Gorby family — Wayd, Christina and their five children — have found, you plant more and more until you have entire fields of happiness that you just want to share. The family opens their fields, located five miles north of downtown Allegan, for others to enjoy during the flowers' peak blooming season. You can take photos, wander the fields and buy a precut bouquet to take home. For peak blooming time and hours, check the farm's website at gorbysunflowers.com.

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Thistleberry Farm 61391 Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana

Thistleberry Farm, which is roughly 80

miles from Kalamazoo, offers a very fragrant way to get your sunflower fix. Not only does the farm offer several sunflower varieties to wander through, but it has adjacent lavender fields that are in peak bloom as well. Admission to the sunflower field is $8 per person, and flowers are $1 to $2 each, depending on the variety. For updates on blooming times as well as information about the farm, visit the farm's Facebook page at facebook.com/ThistleberryFarm.

Hubbard's Corey Lake Orchards

12147 Corey Lake Road, Three Rivers

N

o matter what time of summer you visit Hubbard's Corey Lake Orchards, you will find it a fruitful experience. That's because this orchard and farm has about 150 acres in production and offers U-pick strawberries and blueberries, in addition to growing 60 varieties of apples. There's nothing better than sipping one of the farm’s own handcrafted hard ciders as you roam the sunflower fields or take in the scenic view of the farm and neighboring Kaiser Lake. The farm and its market are open 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Thursday–Monday. For more information, visit coreylakeorchards.com.

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ENTERPRISE ENCORE

Avoiding ‘Assembly Line’ Medicine Personalized care is at the heart of this practice

BY KATIE HOUSTON

I

f the last two years have made you rethink how to stay healthy — and how you get your health care — you’re not alone. A growing number of “direct primary care” clinicians who deliver care for a monthly fee and run their own practices — without insurance company involvement — have planted roots throughout the United States.

The direct primary care (DPC) model allows patients expanded access to their providers, who gain a manageable patient roster in the hundreds rather than the thousands.

In the Kalamazoo area, Southwest Michigan Health Matters delivers direct primary care to about 250 patients per year. It’s located at 5708 Venture Court, in Oshtemo Township, north of Michigan Avenue and west of 11th Street.

Founded in February 2019 by boardcertified physician assistant Jenny Opdycke and Dr. Marti Peters-Sparling, this family medicine practice seeks to improve the health-care experience for both clinicians and patients.

Opdycke and Peters-Spaulding joined forces after each had profitable jobs in busy medical practices but had grown disillusioned with that model of care.

“The unfortunate truth is that in the standard medical model, there just isn’t the time to spend (with patients) that we’d like to,” says Opdycke. She wanted to provide more holistic care.

“I had already been letting patients know they might reduce their medications for things like anxiety and sleeplessness through lifestyle changes,” says Opdycke. “Most of them were shocked when they got better, and it didn’t matter what age they were. My oldest patient was in her 80s, and we were able to get

12 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

significant dose reductions in her medications for hypertension, chronic pain and anxiety.”

Before opening Southwest Michigan Health Matters, Peters-Sparling had been seeing 20 patients per day — upwards of 4,000 per year — and it was stressful. “I was experiencing a lot of burnout,” says the mother of two, whose husband is a family nurse practitioner. “I could see that the system wasn’t working for my patients either. They would bring in a list of concerns, and I would only have time to scratch the surface on the first two. People are tired of being run through an assembly line, and physicians are dropping like flies. I think this is a better system.”

Driven by wellness Opdyke and Peters-Sparling say that with the direct primary care model both doctors and patients escape the limitations of rushed appointments, of not having a relationship with each other, and of a health-care system driven by numbers rather than wellness.

With DPC, clinicians offer significant access to their patients through inperson visits as often as needed and direct communication through text, phone calls and on-screen appointments at no extra cost. Same- or next-day appointments are the norm, with little waiting time to get a question answered. Peters-Sparling and Opdycke are available around the clock by phone for consultations on urgent matters and do their best to bridge the gap between primary and emergency care.

One grateful patient tells how the practice served her husband even before he was a patient. “I sent a concerned email at 3 a.m. when my husband was experiencing

an irregular, elevated heartbeat,” says the patient, who asked that her name not be used. “Dr. Marti called me at 8:30 the next morning and saw him (the patient’s husband) in the office that afternoon. He’s been a fan of hers ever since.”

Registered nurse Annette Crocker, practice manager for Michigan Holistic Health, has been a patient of Opdycke’s since 2021. “The first couple of times we met, just getting to know each other, I opened up about things I didn’t even know I needed to open up about,” Crocker says. “The atmosphere is comfortable, and the access is incredible. It’s so easy to check in about a persistent headache or other concern because I can phone or text and not wait for an appointment to have a simple conversation.”

Membership-based health care To become a patient of Southwest Michigan Health Matters, people sign up as members. The various membership levels start with an initial $200 fee to cover the first month and a 1.5- to 2-hour new-patient appointment.

The practice attracts patients without insurance and those with high deductible (“catastrophic”) plans.

Chelsie Downs-Hubbarth, business and marketing manager for Southwest Michigan Health Matters, describes the various wellness membership tiers offered: “Our most popular is the ‘resilience membership,’ which provides an added monthly service, be it trauma recovery, emotional processing or a personal wellness service like a private yoga class. Some patients start out at a more involved tier and step down when they are feeling better, while others might start with the integrative health level and step up to more.”

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ENCORE ENTERPRISE

Monthly membership fees for healthy individuals like college students and young adults start below $40. A couples membership is $149 a month, while the monthly cost for a family of four (two adults and two children) is $189. All patients enjoy free and discounted wellness classes and workshops, and the practice offers complimentary 30-minute

virtual consultations to learn more about the model.

The detailed case management that the practice offers has a number of advantages, say the practitioners.

“When you spend more time with your patients, you have space for them to ask those lingering questions or share that they

Dr. Marti Peters-Sparling, left, and board-certified physician assistant Jenny Opdycke, right, founded Southwest Michigan Health Matters in 2019.

have been having thoughts of suicide or harming themselves,” says Opdycke.

Peters-Sparling agrees. “We talk about such delicate, personal things, and it takes time to build trust and for people to be

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 13

ENTERPRISE ENCORE comfortable sharing what’s really bothering them,” she says. “If you don’t have that relationship, it’s hard to get anywhere.”

She says their detailed case management can also mean finding and fixing oversights.

“I had a patient who had fallen down some stairs and was in extreme pain,” she recalls. “I had her go to the ER, as it sounded like more

14 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

than a sprained ankle. The X-ray was normal, but she was still in pain. A week later another X-ray still read normal, but I pulled it up and discovered a fracture in a bone that isn’t normally prone to fracture.”

DPC practices have been around since the 1990s, and there are roughly 1,000 of these practices in the U.S. serving an estimated

500,000 people, according to a 2020 report by the Society of Actuaries. Additional DPC practitioners in western Michigan include Inspired Health and Wellness in Kalamazoo, Whole Family Direct Care in Marshall, and Violet Skies Family Health in Caledonia.

'Cradle to grave’ The Southwest Michigan Health Matters clinicians see patients from infants to elders, a benefit that brings particular satisfaction to Opdycke.

“Family medicine is care from the cradle to the grave, and this is the first time I have had the privilege to work with whole families,” says Opdycke, who is gratified for the chance to use such holistic wellness strategies as mindfulness meditation, nutrition counseling and stress reduction. She has a particular interest in trauma recovery, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and ketogenic and low-carb diets.

“I have always been fascinated with the body’s capacity for healing and the idea that we can use lifestyle modification to heal and maintain health,” says Opdycke. “The mindbody connection is a very real thing.”

Opdycke and Peters-Sparling have a goal to continue expanding their multi-disciplinary wellness center by adding a chiropractor, a naturopath and a nutritionist. They currently share their space with Acupuncture Center of Kalamazoo practitioners Wendy Fritz and Charlie Adams and Helping Hands massage therapist Rebecca Palafox, who offer their services to practice members as well as the public.

“I truly believe direct primary care is the wave of the future, and it gives me such joy to watch people blossom into healing — to reverse years, if not decades, of pain and suffering,” says Opdycke.

While the pandemic affected the practice’s operations, it also created new opportunities, she says. “I think it has catalyzed people to reflect on what is and isn’t working in their lives and may be a stimulus for doing the work of generational healing or trauma integration or reevaluating a toxic job. People are ripe for that.”

ENCORE SAVOR

Nostalgic Nod

World War II, female pilots are themes of taproom, winery

Brian Powers

BY JULIE SMITH

C

elebrating female pilots who served in World War II may seem like an unusual concept for a winery, but for Jeff Wescott it's been lucky.

A beer-making effort that began as a “little bit of a hobby” for Wescott became Lucky Girl Brewing Crossroads, a taproom and restaurant located at the crossroads of

M-40 and M-43, between Paw Paw and Gobles, and then saw the addition of the B52 Winery next door.

In 2014, Wescott started Lucky Girl Brewing Co. by making beers to sell at local retail establishments. A bit of a military buff, he was enamored with the World War II generation and designed a label for his

A framed photograph of female pilots of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program of World War II adorns a wall at the B52 Winery.

bottles celebrating the pin-up art of that era.

“World War II was the greatest generation.

It’s when the country took off,” he says.

In 2017 Wescott decided to go bigger with his brewing efforts, teaming up with w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 15

SAVOR ENCORE

Brian Powers

Clockwise from below: Lucky Girl Brewing's decor pays homage to World War II; Lucky Girl and B52 Winery owner Jeff Wescott; the exterior of Lucky Girl Brewing Crossroads has a nostalgic look; and female pilots of the WASP program are featured on the winery's labels.

Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Pittston, Pennsylvania, to brew and package beers and opening the Lucky Girl taproom and restaurant. While its decor reflected Wescott's nostalgic fascination with the World War II era, he also kept an eye on the future.

“When I was opening the brewery, it made sense also to get my winery license,” Wescott says. “There’s a fair amount of women who do not like beer or cider, and I needed to figure out how to offer wine.”

“Suzie” Upjohn DeLano Parish and pilots from marginalized groups such as Native Americans and Asian Americans.

“They were all pin-up perfect,” but it was their stories and actions made these women pilots exceptional, Wescott says. One of the jobs that the WASPs performed was to tow targets for training missions.

“It makes a great label,” he says, showing the artwork.

Wine and women

In addition to the locally made libations, which include beers, ciders, meads and wines, Lucky Girl and B52 Winery also serve food.

Wescott describes the menu as “eclectic,” noting that it has grown and been adapted over time. “I started off my with own barbecue and rubs,” he says. “I soon realized that not everybody wants to eat barbecue every night.”

Wescott called on Chef Pedro Angel, a former Chicago-area partner, to come to Michigan to collaborate on the Lucky Girl menu. The result is a menu with a little of everything, from crabcakes to tacos and pizza.

In 2019, Wescott opened the B52 Winery.

When it came to the winery's decor, Wescott wanted to keep a World War II theme but honor female pilots who served in the war as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program. More than 1,000 women were WASP pilots, flying planes, including bombers, from factories to military bases as part of the war effort. The program was terminated shortly after the war.

WASP pilots adorn the labels on the B52 Winery's bottles, including Kalamazoo native and Air Zoo co-founder Suzanne

16 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

On the menu

ENCORE SAVOR

With the success of Lucky Girl, Angel has plans to open his own taco and tequila bar down M-43 in Bangor. When that opens, both Angel’s establishment and Lucky Girl will feature a private-label Mexican-style beer that Wescott is currently working on.

Wescott is also collaborating with Kim Mandigo, a local home brewer for 25 years, to produce meads and ciders for Wescott's establishments.

The brewery and winery also offer opportunities for local musicians to perform.

Eight years after deciding to brew beer for a living, Wescott sees only the sky as the limit for his enterprises. He has ideas of showing outdoor movies during the summer and hosting a charging station for electric vehicles as he stands poised for takeoff.

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Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A. Willis Law 491 West South Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.492.1040 www.willis.law

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THE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING

Yes. Most often when folks talk on trust planning, they are referencing a revocable trust. In fact, that is the case probably more than 99% of the time. A revocable trust under Michigan law generally is set up only to avoid probate--that’s its only benefit. However, there Please send your questions to: husband going into a nursing home.that I’ve told it is is anMy irrevocable trustisfor persons in your circumstances can been be established withtoyour assetsatotrust the extent they exceed protected possible for me create and protect my the assets from the spend Willis Law amount (which under Michigan law will cap at a little over $125,000). down at the nursing home. Is that true?

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Willis Law MICHAEL J. WILLIS, J.D., C.P.A., WILLIS LAW

Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A.

THE BUSINESS AND ESTATE PLANNING

A. Sometimes. Although the best evidence of a Will is a document

drafted by a lawyer and signed in the presence of two disinterested witnesses and a separate notary, this is not necessary to complete a valid Will in Michigan. Michigan law allows handwritten documents to be admitted as Wills, although they must usually be dated and signed by the decedent. Michigan has also opened up a “Wild West” in answer to the question “what makes a Will?” and some will have success admitting electronic documents as a Will, or handwritten documents that aren’t dated or signed. Currently the law informs that if it might be a Will and it meets the decedent’s intent, it is worth Among Synergy Health Center staff that work with Valarie Cunningham, offering to the far left, are, fromitleft, Sonjacourt.

Roseman, clinical director; Daja Johnson,

Michael J. Willis is the Managing Partner of Willis Law, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, is licensed to practice law in Florida and Michigan, and is registered as a certified public accountant in the state of Illinois. Attorney Willis is rated as an A V -Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating, according to Martindale, which has been rating lawyers for over a century, signifies that an attorney has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America.

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digital marketer; and Mark Viel, therapist.

Brian Powers

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He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 17

Brian Powers

Healthy Lakes Again,

18 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

EverBlue Lake Solutions' natural methods master muck to restore waterways large and small

BY CHRIS KILLIAN

You’ve likely experienced it: On a hot

summer day, nothing sounds better than a dip in the cool water of a local lake. But when you step in to get a respite from the haze and humidity, you find your feet sinking into a thick, slimy mass of muck, and whatever ideas you had about spending the day in the water fade like the fiery tendrils of a Fourth of July firework.

John Tucci knows this all too well.

He and his wife purchased property on Sherman Lake in 2003, intent on fixing up an old cottage on it. It had a beautiful lakefront and a gravel shoreline that eased into clean, clear water. A few years later, after the cottage project was finished, Tucci took his family there one summer day and held his then-toddler daughter’s hand as they waded into the water.

Tucci's daughter emerged from the lake so dirty her swimsuit had to be thrown away.

“I didn’t buy lake property to not be able to swim,” he says. “My lake was dead.”

Chemicals had been used to kill the growing vegetation in the lake, especially the invasive

Eurasian watermilfoil. The treatment works, but the end result is a thick layer of muck that develops as the plants decompose, choking the lake of oxygen, especially on the bottom.

“A lake whose bottom is out of oxygen virtually has no chance of improving. It only goes downhill from there,” Tucci says.

“A lake bottom like that is fundamentally no different than a septic tank. If the first thing you think of when you leave the water is, ‘Man, I need a shower,’ then you’ve got an issue.”

The reason for explosive growth of invasive underwater plants is fertilizer runoff from lawns that ring a lake's shoreline, as well as runoff from area agricultural operations.

The nitrogen and phosphorus leaching into a lake literally supercharge the growth of vegetation.

So Tucci, of Richland, got to work thinking of ways he could remedy the problem.

He experimented in his garage with new aeration techniques that used tiny bubbles to draw low-oxygen water to the surface,

Above, John Tucci holds an Aerforce Microporous Ceramic Diffuser, which he patented. Left: Tucci checks the aeration system installed and running on Lake LeAnn in Somerset Township, Michigan.

where it’s oxygenated and then makes its way to the bottom through displacement, in a continuous cycle.

“You know those bubbles you see in an aquarium? It’s basically the same idea only much larger in scale,” Tucci says.

From experiment to reality After successful tests of the technology on small ponds in the area, Tucci created a company called Lake Savers LLC in 2007. He patented the process he developed, Aerforce Microporous Ceramic Diffuser Technology, and launched a part-time pilot program the next year. By 2009 he had quit his job as a senior leadership and management consultant to Fortune 500 companies to do lake restoration work full time. In 2015, Tucci changed the company name to EverBlue Lake Solutions, and he has worked to streamline the process of natural lake restoration to a science.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 19

“Mother Nature does this twice a year. It’s called lake turnover — where more-dense, oxygen-rich water at the top sinks to the (lake) bottom and displaces the less-dense, low-oxygen water there, which rises to the top,” he says.

EverBlue's services are exclusively for inland lakes. So far, EverBlue has helped restore 50 lakes, including many across Michigan and as far away as Vermont, California, Missouri and North Carolina. Locally, EverBlue has provided services for Paw Paw and Maple lakes in Paw Paw, Austin Lake in Portage and Crooked Lake in Texas Township. At any given time, Tucci’s 20 employees are working on between 30 and 50 lakes, he says, mostly in the Midwest and Northeast.

Lakes from 50 acres to more than 1,000 acres are EverBlue’s sweet spot, with most of its projects involving lakes ranging from 100 to 500 acres in size.

The company’s technology, however, can be scaled up for even larger lakes. EverBlue has treated a 1,400-acre lake in Vermont and several even larger lakes, Tucci says. The company has even developed a design concept for Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, which is about the size of Rhode Island.

Despite the company’s ability to scaleup its work, doing so comes with challenges, Tucci says, including funding and regulatory challenges.

Brian Powers

Left: Tucci talks to employees, Julie Gorlay, left, and Katie Murphy, right, as they prepare to treat a lake with the company's BioBlast. Above: Pools of BioBlast, a beneficial bacteria, await dispersal into the lake.

Restoring a lake's health Up to a year in advance of deployment of EverBlue’s system, workers take water-quality samples to determine clarity and oxygen levels and then create a depth profile of the lake in need of help. That data is used to create a custom plan for the lake to determine how best to reoxygenate the water, with calculations made for how many diffusers to use, where to place them and to what depth, creating a network that is fed by an air compressor on the shore. Tucci holds a patent on aspects of his proprietary technology, he says.

In addition to the aeration, EverBlue also offers other strategies to make a lake as healthy as possible, from harvesting phosphorus, which can later be repurposed as fertilizer, to employing what the

20 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

firm calls BioBlast, high-potency beneficial bacteria that help to clean lakes of algae blooms and other nuisance organic material.

But the company’s lake treatment is not just about creating a more pleasant swimming experience. It can be a money saver too, despite the cost of the treatment, which can last years. For every two feet of water clarity gained or lost, property values either rise or fall by 10 percent, Tucci says.

Lake associations usually sign on to a five-year leasing program for the treatment, Tucci says, so that they aren’t hit with a single large bill.

The treatment, he says, can total hundreds of thousands of dollars, with each lake being different. He includes a free assessment and performance-based contracts, so that if restoration is not producing the results expected, rebates or other discounts can be applied.

Tucci admits that chemical treatments have their place but says they should be utilized sparingly. Other strategies, like drain and sewer improvements or installing vegetation buffers and addressing erosion issues, can go a long way toward keeping runoff from entering lakes, he says. Homeowners, too, have their part to play in maintaining a restored lake, by trying to reduce the use of fertilizers on their lawns.

“We all have to play our part in making our lakes healthier,” he says.

“In the end, the costs of these treatments pay for themselves. In a way, I am trying to put myself out of business.”

But with so many lakes experiencing the same problems as the ones his firm has helped alleviate, the future of EverBlue seems anything but murky.

Achieving Balance

T heArts

Spotlighting greater Kalamazoo's arts community

Kait Rose's new album reflects her life as mom, artist I

t seems appropriate that singersongwriter Kaitlin Rose Parmenter — whose summer is filled with playing new venues, releasing an album, planning a wedding and preparing for a bucket-list event in the fall — would title her latest album Balance.

It is the seventh album of a nearly twodecade career for the musician, who goes by Kait Rose, and is a balance of newer songs and older tunes she has written.

“I had written a few new songs and had to decide whether they should be singles or might anchor a whole album,” Rose says of the album she began putting together last September. “What helped me decide was feeling like a lot of older songs that have evolved and grown with me deserved another chance.

“I really like it. I’m proud of what’s here,” she says of the outcome.

Performing since 16 Growing up in Delton, Rose performed songs from The Little Mermaid at the age of 5. As a teen, she discovered her mother’s guitar in a closet and started teaching herself to play it.

“I grew up listening to Carole King, Cat Stevens, the Eagles, thanks to my parents (Patti McNulty and Mike Parmenter), so my ear was tuned in to acoustic players and songwriters,” she says. “I had a lot of inspirations to draw from, and I think of Joni Mitchell when I sit down to play.”

Rose will celebrate her 37th birthday on Aug. 21. That’s 21 years after her first public performance, at age 16 at Kraftbrau Brewing, which is now the Old Dog Tavern.

“I went down to Kraftbrau for an openmic night with my mom, who asked (the organizers) if I could play,” she says. Rose played an original song as well as Jewel's

Courtsey

BY KATIE HOUSTON

"You Were Meant for Me" and “didn’t really stop playing or performing” all through her teen years.

Other than spending three years in the Seattle area after high school, Rose has been happy to call Kalamazoo home.

“I love the arts community here,” she says.

Even after all these years, I still keep meeting amazing artists and I’m astounded by their talent. This is a special place.”

Rose performs primarily in Michigan. This summer she's played at venues that include Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, BlissFest in Harbor Springs, and The Acorn in Three Oaks. Among her most popular gigs is a Fleetwood Mac Tribute show, in which she and guest musicians perform that band’s hits. Many of the songs are from its breakout album Rumours, released in 1977, eight years before Rose was born. The tribute show was launched in 2018 at Old Dog Tavern.

“We sold out there two years in a row, so we moved to Bell’s (Eccentric Cafe) in 2021,” Rose says, a show that also sold out. This year two Fleetwood Mac Tribute shows are scheduled at Bell’s in November and will include musicians Jim Beebe, Greg Orr, Ryan Demeniuk, Bob Wallis, Traci Seuss and Aaron Stinson (who make up The Thorns), plus Patti McNulty, Matt Gabriel and Adam Marth.

Other opportunities to hear the group’s Fleetwood Mac covers will be available this month in Battle Creek and Paw Paw. 'Bad Mother' and more When Rose is not writing, producing, rehearsing, booking, marketing or performing her music, she teaches guitar for Kalamazoo’s Academy of Rock, parents her three children and serves as a postpartum doula for firsttime moms. Her experiences balancing these roles has informed her music, especially her

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2016 song "Bad Mother," written when she had three young children: Am I a bad mother to say that I want out of it? A bad woman to say I’d rather be in Nashville, New York, Hollywood or Austin, I’d rather be on my way? Am I a bad mother to be the one to leave? A bad woman for wanting to be free?

“I wrote that song when I was wondering if I was going to have to wait 15 to 20 years before I pursued my passion,” Rose says. “If I wanted to be a touring musician, if I wanted to go for it and have some level of success, did I just shoot myself in the foot? And then I felt bad for daydreaming about a life that I couldn’t have right then. Those were years of hard work to balance motherhood and musicianship.

“Now I’m so grateful to have a home and be part of this community, raising my children and finding out that I can still pursue my art and creative endeavors. I’m glad I’m not on the road, getting burned out doing 200 gigs on tour and missing my kids. I feel good about creating my own idea of what success looks like.”

Her music has often reflected her own life.

She describes her 2015 album, The Other Side, as intense, angry and sad, chronicling the decline of her relationship with her children’s father. A friend suggested that her next album, Live Enough, released in 2019, seems

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Album Release Party What: Kait Rose reveals her new album, Balance, with backing band The Thorns and other musicians When: 8 p.m. Aug. 12 Where: Bell's Eccentric Cafe, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 day of show, available at Etix.com and Bell’s General Store

Other Upcoming Performances • Fleetwood Mac Tribute, 5 p.m. Aug. 5, Friendship Park, Battle Creek, free • Fleetwood Mac Tribute, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26, Warner Vineyards, Paw Paw • Solo performances, 2 p.m. Sept. 9 & 10, Song Stage, Wheatland Music Festival, Remus to be about someone looking in the rearview mirror, driving away from that destruction.

“Today I’m not driving away from anything,” Rose says. “Now I understand that relationships end and not everything was awful. I can be grateful for the experience and what I learned. I’m reaching a place of deeper gratitude for those experiences rather

than being angry or hurt. I remember it was a bad, hard time, but that’s life.”

As to the title of Rose's upcoming album? “'Balance' is a meaningful word for me," she explains. "Balancing motherhood and my artistry, balancing the love I have for travel and touring with longing for roots in a community. This album is a culmination of all those things, from a more hopeful and positive space. I’ve finally come to a sense of peace, and this album represents a more grown-up self, on firmer ground. As an artist, it’s important to have music that’s representative of who you are right now.”

As she prepares for a September wedding to fiancé and bandmate Aaron Stinson — who heads up the All-American Funk Parade and plays with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers — Rose is also excited about her debut performances at the Wheatland Music Festival in Remus on Sept. 9–10.

“It’s Michigan’s music mecca,” she says of the festival, which she hasn't visited before.

“I’ve been existing in a space of hopeful manifestation, having had the dream to play there for so long. I wanted to hold out until I was able to go as a performer.”

And Rose will play Wheatland the way she started out in music — as a solo artist.

“If all the band members went away, I would be OK, because I’ve been doing this since I was 15.”

TheArts

THEATER

Tuesdays with Morrie

Rock of Ages

This play is based on Detroit sportswriter Mitch Albom's memoir about his weekly visits with his former college professor Morrie Schwartz, who was then facing his mortality as a patient with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS. The show will be performed by Water Works Theatre Company of Royal Oak at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, 329 S. Park St., and half of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Centrica Care Navigators (formerly Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan).

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24–27 and 2 p.m. Aug. 28, and tickets are $35, except for the $100 VIP tickets on opening night.

Those tickets include a 6:30 reception with Albom, prime seating, and a post-show Q&A session with Albom and the show's actors.

The regularly priced tickets for that night include the post-show Q&A. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 343–1313 or visit kazoocivic.com.

The songs of 1980s glam bands like Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard underscore this tale of big dreams, big egos and big hair to be staged at Augusta’s Barn Theatre.

Rock of Ages is a comedic love story about a small-town girl and a big-city dreamer who meet on Sunset Strip and fall in love. It’s told through hit songs of the 1980s.

The show is rated PG and is set for 8 p.m. Aug. 9–13 and 16–20 and 5 p.m. Aug. 14 and 21. Tickets are $41–$49. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 731–4121 or visit barntheatreschool.org.

Aug. 24–28 Kalamazoo Civic

Cowboys: Songs, Stories and Poems Aug. 19–Sept. 24 New Vic Theatre

Dusty trails, life on the range and the work of cowboys will be highlighted in this original production at the New Vic Theatre.

The show will feature music, stories and poems that reflect this breed of men who have had a deep and lasting impact on U.S. history.

Show times are 8 p.m. Aug. 19, 20, 26 and 27 and Sept. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24. Tickets are $30. For tickets or more information, visit thenewvictheatre.org.

Aug. 9–21 Barn Theatre

Young Frankenstein Aug. 28–Sept 4 Barn Theatre

The crazy comic genius of Mel Brooks comes alive in the Barn Theatre's production of Young Frankenstein.

Based on the 1974 comedic film of the same name written

by Gene Wilder and Brooks, the show lampoons the horror film genre, especially the 1931 Universal Pictures film Frankenstein and its 1935 and 1939 sequels, Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. It includes such memorable tunes as "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' on the Ritz."

Show times are 8 p.m. Aug. 23–27 and Aug. 30–Sept. 3 and 5 p.m.

Aug. 28 and Sept. 4. Tickets are $41–$49. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 731–4121 or visit barntheatreschool.org.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 23

TheArts

MUSIC

Summertime Live Concerts Various times Various venues

During the dog days of summer, the outdoor concerts sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo will fill the air with cool music.

The concerts are free. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and head out for these free concerts. The groups performing in August and the concert locations are: • DJ Conscious, Courtney Moore, Mitchie Moore and Sherdizzil, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3, Bates Alley (between Pitcher and Portage streets), downtown Kalamazoo

Gizzae

• Kanola Band, 11:30 a.m. Aug. 5, Bronson Park, and 5 p.m. Aug. 5, Haymarket Plaza, 139 N. Edwards St. • Serita's Black Rose, 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 5, outside of the State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St. • Moonshot, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7, The Stage at Kindleberger Park, Parchment Kanola Band

• Kalamazoo Academy of Rock, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10, Bates Alley

• Jeffrey Cavataio, 7 p.m. Aug. 11, Celery Flats, 7328 Garden Lane, Portage • Pinter Whitnick, 11:30 a.m. Aug. 12, Bronson Park • Gizzae, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, The Stage at Kindleberger Park, Parchment • Pinter Whitnick, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17, Bates Alley • Youth Talent Show, 11:30 a.m. Aug. 19, Bronson Park • René Meave, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19, outside of the State Theatre • Farmers Alley Best of Broadway, 4 p.m. Aug. 21, Bronson Park • The Kari Lynch Band, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21, The Stage at Kindleberger Park, Parchment • Yolonda Lavender, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24, Bates Alley • Serita's Black Rose, 11:30 a.m. Aug. 26, Bronson Park • Orchestra Jammbo'laya & Friends, 4:30 p.m. Aug. 26, Celery Flats • Corn Fed Girls, 6 p.m. Aug. 28, Flesher Field Gazebo, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo Township • Out of Favor Boys, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 31, Bates Alley For more information, visit kalamazooarts.org.

24 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

Change Gonna Come

Jerome Collins

Aug. 29 Kalamazoo Bach Festival

The Bach Festival will present this biographical musical on the life and songs of soul singer Sam Cooke at 4 p.m. in Bronson Park. The concert is a benefit for Open Doors of Kalamazoo, a nonprofit organization that helps people overcome homelessness.

Baritone Jerome Collins, the founding member of the a capella ensemble Straight No Chaser, will portray Cooke, who had 30 Top 40 hits between 1957 and 1964, the year he was killed, at age 33. His hits included “You Send Me,” “A Change is Gonna Come,” “Cupid,” “Chain Gang,” “Wonderful World,” “Another Saturday Night” and “Twistin' the Night Away.”

Led by Bach Festival Music Director Chris Ludwa, the show will feature jazz instrumentalists and backup singers supporting Collins. The concert is free, and representatives of Open Doors of Kalamazoo will be on hand.

For more information, visit kalamazoobachfestival.org.

VISUAL ARTS Ongoing Exhibitions Photo Exhibition

Through Sept. 9 Portage City Hall Atrium

Intern Exhibition

Through Aug. 26 Kalamazoo Book Arts Center

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

Art Hop

Aug. 5 Downtown Kalamazoo

Stephen Hansen: You Are Here Through Aug. 28

A chance to see artists at work live is being offered at this month’s Art Hop, running from 5–8 p.m. in downtown Kalamazoo.

A number of artists working in various media will be creating work on-site for attendees to view during this free event organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. As usual, this month’s Art Hop will also feature a variety of artists’ completed works on display in downtown Kalamazoo locations as well as live music and the chance to visit downtown businesses.

The Arts Council has an app that provides a guide and map of Art Hop sites, information about participating artists, and walking directions. For more information or to access the app, visit kalamazooarts.org.

West Michigan Area Show Through Sept. 4

Surrealish: The Absurd and Unexpected Through Sept. 11

Balancing the Cosmos: Works by Li Hongwei Through Oct. 2

Unveiling American Genius Through December

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TheArts LITERATURE Mark Love

Aug. 23 Portage District Library Local author Mark Love will talk at 7 p.m. about his Jefferson Chene mystery series and other novels he has written.

Love's most recent book, The Wayward Path, is the third in the series, which follows the investigative work of Detroit police officer Jefferson Chene. Love, who teaches at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, is the author of eight novels, including two mystery series, and has contributed to more than five short-story collections and anthologies.

As a part of his presentation, he will discuss his writing journey and the realistic details he puts into his work. Light refreshments and a book signing will follow the presentation.

For more information visit portagelibrary.info.

TheArts

is published in partnership and funding provided by

ENCORE POETRY

Dew Point 65 at 7 a.m.

All the windows are wet, and when I walk barefoot the kitchen floor makes kissing sounds.

August’s intricate stink of ripe and rot sits so thick that the mosquitoes massing in formation, patiently waiting for breakfast to step out, seem suspended in solution.

Yet I’ll bathe in bug spray and go out because I want to learn Summer by heart the way she is, rank, lush, blowsy, damp, and not as some February airbrushed fantasy but someone real, someone who can be cold or clinging at the wrong times, who fails to meet my expectations only to exceed them.

I’m not ready to end the relationship by turning on the air conditioning, which will distance me from her, give me room to breathe, make me an objective, mildly critical spectator, coolly taking inventory of her flaws. Even if our separation is inevitable, that’s not how I want it to end.

— Susan Blackwell Ramsey Ramsey is a Kalamazoo poet whose collection A Mind Like This (2012) won the University of Nebraska’s Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry.

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pinerest.org/urgent • 616.455.9200

ENCORE EVENTS

Please Note: Due to the COVID–19 virus, some of these events may have been cancelled after press time. Please check with the venue and organizations for up–to–date information.

PERFORMING ARTS THEATER Plays

Cowboys: Songs, Stories and Poems — From a breed of men who left a deep and lasting impact on U.S. history, 8 p.m. Aug. 19–20, 26–27, Sept. 9–10, 16–17, & 23–24, New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St., thenewvictheatre.org.

Tuesdays with Morrie — Based on Mitch Albom’s memoir about a hard-driving sportswriter’s weekly visits with his former college professor, opening night pre–show reception 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24, regular shows at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24–27 and 2 p.m. Aug. 28, Civic Theatre, 329 S. Park St., 343–1313, kazoocivic. com.

Musicals

Groundhog Day — A musical about one man’s journey of self-discovery, day after day, inspired by the movie of the same name, 8 p.m. Aug. 2–6, 5 p.m. Aug. 7, Barn Theatre, 13351 West M-96, Augusta, 731–4121, barntheatreschool. org; recommended for ages 13 and up.

Rock of Ages — A small-town girl meets a bigcity dreamer and falls in love to the popular songs of the ‘80s, 8 p.m. Aug. 9–13 & 16–20, 5 p.m. Aug. 14 & 21, Barn Theatre, 731–4121, barntheatreschool.org; rated PG.

Young Frankenstein — Mel Brooks’ comedy about a science experiment gone wrong, 8 p.m. Aug. 23–27 & Aug. 30–Sept. 3, 5 p.m.

Aug. 28 & Sept. 4, Barn Theatre, 731–4121, barntheatreschool.org; rated PG–13.

MUSIC Bands & Solo Artists Beats on Bates — Weekly live outdoor music under the lights of Bates Alley, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesdays: DJ Conscious, Courtney Moore, Mitchie Moore and Sherdizzil, Aug. 3; Kalamazoo Academy of Rock, Aug. 10; Pinter Whitnick, Aug. 17; Yolonda Lavender, Aug. 24; Out of Favor Boys, Aug. 31, downtownkalamazoo.org.

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Back Room Concerts — The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Aug. 4; Kait Rose and The Thorns, Aug. 12; Ballyhoo!, Shwayze and Surfer Girl, Aug. 13; The Elovaters, Aug. 17; Arkansauce, Aug. 26; all shows begin at 8 p.m., 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382–2332, bellsbeer.com.

Lunchtime Live! — A free weekly event in Bronson Park with live music, games and food, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Fridays: Kanola Band, Aug. 5; Pinter Whitnick, Aug. 12; Youth Talent Show, Aug. 19; Serita’s Black Rose, Aug. 26; kzooparks.org.

Bell’s Beer Garden Concerts — Trevor Hall’s 2 Oceans Tour w/ Gone Gone Beyond, 8 p.m. Aug. 5; Latinx Celebration with local musicians and dancers, noon–4 p.m. Aug. 7; Charley Crockett w/Emily Nenni, 8 p.m. Aug. 9; The Wild Hearts Tour of Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen and Julien Baker w/ Quinn Christopherson, 8 p.m. Aug. 11; Murder by Death & Amigo the Devil: Tour from the Crypt, 7 p.m. Aug. 15; Pigeons Playing Ping Pong w/ Desmond Jones, 8 p.m. Aug. 20, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382–2332, bellsbeer.com.

Moonshot — Classic and modern rock from the ‘60s through ‘90s, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Jeffrey Cavataio — Singing original songs and Frank Sinatra’s hits, 7 p.m. Aug. 11, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage, discoverkalamazoo.com; bring a blanket or chair.

Gizzae — Reggae band, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Best of Broadway — Farmers Alley Theatre presents music from Broadway shows, 4 p.m.

Aug. 21, Bronson Park, kalamazooarts.org.

The Kari Lynch Band — Nashville-based band, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Kanola Band — Jazz and soulful funk, 5–7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, Haymarket Plaza, 139 N. Edwards St., kalamazooarts.org.

Dwight Yoakam — Grammy Award-winning country artist, 8 p.m. Aug. 25, State Theatre, kazoostate.com.

State on the Street — Live concerts on select Fridays outside the State Theatre: Serita’s Black Rose, Aug. 5; Rene Meave, Aug. 19; seating starts at 5 p.m., music at 5:30 p.m., 404 S. Burdick St., kazoostate.com.

Orchestra Jammbo’laya & Friends — Diverse community group playing music with an African Diaspora aesthetic, 4:30–8:30 p.m. Aug. 26, Celery Flats Pavilion, kalamazooarts.org; bring a blanket or chair.

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EVENTS ENCORE Fly Lite Gemini — Folk, rock and blues, 8 p.m.

Aug. 26, Final Gravity Brewing, 246 N. Burdick St., discoverkalamazoo.com.

Corn Fed Girls — Acoustic Americana, 6–7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, Flesher Field, 3664 S. Ninth St., discoverkalamazoo.com.

Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More

Change Gonna Come — Baritone Jerome Collins joins the Kalamazoo Bach Festival to sing the music of soul singer Sam Cooke in this free concert and benefit for Open Doors of Kalamazoo, 4 p.m. Aug. 29, Bronson Park, kalamazoobachfestival.org.

FILM Kzoo Parks Summer Cinema — Free outdoor movies, with face painting and snacks: Sing 2, Aug. 5; U-Pick the Flick, Aug. 19, with disc golf clinic at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m.; South Westnedge Park, 1101 S. Westnedge Ave., kzooparks.org/summercinema.

The Iron Giant — Movie begins after sunset (approximately 9 p.m.) Aug. 26, Celery Flats Historical Area, 7335 Garden Lane; bring a blanket or chair and snacks, portagemi.gov/ calendar.

VISUAL ARTS

Surrealish: The Absurd and Unexpected — Works by Surrealist masters on display alongside contemporary and regional artists, through Sept. 11.

Balancing the Cosmos: Works by Li Hongwei — An intersection between traditional Chinese ceramic forms and contemporary glaze and sculpture, through Oct. 2.

Unveiling American Genius — Abstract and contemporary works from the KIA’s permanent collection, emphasizing stories that African American, Latino and other artists have told about our cultures, art and history, through December.

Events ARTbreak — Program about art, artists and exhibitions: West Michigan Area Show Artists, discussion led by two sculptors with work in the show, noon Aug. 23, KIA Auditorium or via livestream; reserve free tickets on KIA website.

Other Venues

Intern Exhibition — The Kalamazoo Book Arts Center’s annual display of its interns’ work, through Aug. 26, KBAC, 373–4938, kalbookarts.org.

Exhibitions

Annual Photo Exhibition — A glimpse of Portage parks through the lens of the community, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday, through Sept. 9, Portage City Hall Atrium, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.

Stephen Hansen: You Are Here — Papiermâché sculptures depicting humans, animals and hybrid figures, through Aug. 28.

Art Hop — This month’s Art Hop will feature artists creating artworks live, 5–8 p.m. Aug. 5, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349–7775, kiarts.org

West Michigan Area Show — Juried exhibition of works by area visual artists, through Sept. 4.

LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345–0136, comstocklibrary.org Adult Book Group — Discussion of 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows, by Ai Weiwei, 11 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Aug. 31; registration required.

Kalamazoo Public Library 553–7800, kpl.gov Page Turners Book Club — Discussion of A Town Called Solace, by Mary Lawson, 6:30– 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1, outside at Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St., or on Zoom if weather is inclement; registration required.

Youth Author Series — Lisa Wheeler, 1 p.m.

Aug. 5, Oshtemo Branch; Jean Alicia Elster, 3:30 p.m. Aug. 5, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.; books given away at events while supplies last.

John Ball Traveling Zoo — An up-close encounter with live zoo animals, noon, 1 & 2 p.m. Aug. 8, Oshtemo Branch; tickets available the day of the event.

GLAMA Acoustic Slow Jam — The Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association leads a jam with simple chord progressions and slow- to medium-tempo tunes, 5:30 Aug. 9, Central Library; all acoustic stringed instruments welcome.

KPL Mobile Library — 1:30–3 p.m. Aug. 17, 7110 West Q Ave.; 11 a.m.–noon Aug. 18, Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N. Burdick St. Drum and Dance with Rootead — Move and make music in this family drum-anddance experience, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Aug. 18, Eastwood Branch, 1112 Gayle Ave.

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ENCORE EVENTS

Tuesdays with Morrie Book Discussion — Discussion of book by Mitch Albom, 10:30– 11:30 a.m. Aug. 18, Oshtemo Branch.

Music and Memories with Fiddlehead Music Therapy — Songs geared towards older adults and discussion about how music moves us and brings up memories and stories, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Aug. 18, Oshtemo Branch.

Chalk It Out! — An all-ages event where you can express yourself with chalk on library sidewalks, 1–2 p.m. Aug. 10, 11 & 17, Central Library and all branches; sidewalk chalk provided.

Urban Fiction Book Club — Discussion of Shattered, by Kia Dupree, 6 p.m. Aug. 30, Alma Powell Branch, 1000 W. Paterson St.; registration required.

Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343–7747, parchmentlibrary.org Parchment Book Group — Discussion of Miss Benson’s Beetle, by Rachel Joyce, 6 p.m. Aug. 8.

Kindleberger Park History Walk — Cheryl Lyon-Jenness will lead an outdoor walking tour discussing the history of Kindleberger Park; meet at the historical marker in the park, behind the library, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16.

Portage District Library 300 Library Lane, 329–4544, portagelibrary.info

Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629–9085, richlandlibrary.org Team Trivia on the Patio — Teams of two to five compete outside, 7 p.m. Aug. 4; registration required.

Books with Friends’ Special Event — Featuring Tom Standage’s bestseller A History of the World in 6 Glasses and a talk by Gull Lake Distillery owner Lindsay Koch, 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 17, Gull Lake Distillery, 100 E. Michigan Ave., Galesburg.

Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., Vicksburg, 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org Writer’s Roundtable: Creative Writing Group — 1 p.m. Aug. 24 and monthly on the fourth Wednesday.

MUSEUMS Air Zoo 6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382–6555, airzoo.org Saturday Science Floor Shows — Subzero Science, noon & 2 p.m. Aug. 6; What’s Wright with Flight, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Aug. 13; Rosie’s Riveting Revue, noon & 2 p.m. Aug 20.

National Aviation Day Open House 2022 — Free admission to the Flight Discovery Center

Building on Milham Road, with normal general admission at the Flight Innovation Center on Portage Road., 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Aug. 19.

Summer STEAM Day: Aviation — Free outdoor community event with hands-on science stations staffed by local businesses and educators, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 20 Fly-in of Visiting Planes and Rides — Historic aircraft will be visiting the Air Zoo and available for ticketed rides: B–17 Yankee Lady, Aug. 20; B–25 Rosie’s Reply, Aug. 27; tickets can be purchased in advance on the Air Zoo’s website.

Gilmore Car Museum 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671–5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org Wednesday Night Cruise-ins — Collector cars, oldies music and food, 5–8 p.m. Wednesdays on good-weather nights, through September.

Red Barns Spectacular — Antique, classic and special-interest car shows open to vehicles 25 years old and older, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Aug. 6.

Cars & Characters: A Celebration of Princesses and Superheroes on Parade — Meet-and-greet experience with 16 characters, featuring photos, autographs, superhero training with Spiderman and story time with Belle, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 7.

Art Exhibits — Gardening for Pollinators with Native Plants, display of Michigan natural beauty through photographs by Quyen Edwards, Cafe Gallery; Animals in Art, a collection of artists from Southwest Michigan in a variety of media, Atrium Gallery; both exhibits through Aug. 26.

Pollinator Garden Tour: Monarch Waystation — Outdoor tour of the library’s native plantings and information on how to grow your own, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10, northwest corner of building, weather permitting; registration required.

International Mystery Book Discussion — Discussion of Conviction, by Denise Mina, 7 p.m. Aug. 11, Long and Gourdneck Lake rooms.

Yoga with Books — Certified yoga instructor Violet Nickolae leads sessions open to all skill levels, 10 a.m. Aug. 13 & 26, Austin, Sugarloaf and West Lake Rooms; registration required.

Kalamazoo Plant It Forward Swap — Join indoor and outdoor plant lovers for a plant swap social event, 6–8 p.m. Aug. 17; registration required.

Michigan Author Talk: Mark Love — Author of The Wayward Path, the third novel in his Detroit-based Jefferson Chene mystery series, 7 p.m. Aug. 23.

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EVENTS ENCORE

Lincoln Homecoming Weekend — Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Co., 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Aug. 13–14.

the importance of native plants for a healthy ecosystem, 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, through August.

The Surfrajettes — Canadian group playing a variety of rock and surfer music, 8–9:30 p.m.

Aug. 19; bring a blanket or chair.

The Forgotten Fights of the Kalamazoo Boxing Academy — Traces the history of the academy while focusing on fighters who recount their personal experiences, through Sept. 18.

Relix Riot — Traditional hot rods, custom cars and motorcycles, live music and pin-up contest, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Aug. 20.

The RockShow: Ultimate Rock Tribute — Performing hits from Elvis Presley, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and more, 8–9:30 p.m. Aug. 26; bring a blanket or chair.

The Lovettes — Performing their original show The Leaders of the Pack, a musical depicting the evolution of girl groups and saluting women who changed music history, 8–9:30 p.m. Aug. 27; bring a blanket or chair.

Pierce-Arrow Gathering — Showcasing the luxury cars built in Buffalo, New York, from 1901–1938, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 28.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373–7990, kalamazoomuseum.org Rain Garden Tours — Showcasing how the garden serves the whole community, how storm sewers work and affect drinking water, and

Wonder Media: Ask the Questions! — This interactive exhibition tests visitors’ literacy skills and shows how to discern misinformation and disinformation in the media, through 2023.

NATURE Binder Park Zoo 7400 Division Drive, Battle Creek, 979–1351, binderparkzoo.org Reptile Weekend — Annual two-day event for all ages designed to dispel the myths and fears that people have about snakes and lizards, Aug. 6–7.

Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381–1574, naturecenter.org Behind the Scenes of Animal Care — Learn how the Nature Center keeps its animal ambassadors healthy and content and assist in daily tasks of an animal caretaker, 10–11:30 a.m.

Aug. 20; registration required.

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671–2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu Birds and Coffee Chat Online — Discussion of gardening for birds, 10 a.m. Aug. 10; registration required.

Free Admission to Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Tours of Kellogg Manor House & Lakeside Concert — Enjoy a full day of activities on Aug. 28: sanctuary hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free tours of Manor House with docents, noon–3 p.m., and free lakeside concert with Cereal City Concert Band of Battle Creek, 3–5 p.m.; Manor House grounds, 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive, 269-671-2160.

Other Venues Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Public Observing Sessions — “The Moon, Saturn & Double Stars,” Aug. 6; “Jupiter, Saturn & Summer Nebulae,” Aug. 20; both sessions 9 p.m.–1 a.m., Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave.; sessions will be canceled if the sky is mostly cloudy or overcast; check kasonline.org starting at 6 p.m. the day of the event.

Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Self-Guided Scavenger Hunts — Download scavenger hunt sheets and mail them in for monthly prize drawings, kalcounty.com/parks/krvt/ trailprogramming.

30 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

MISCELLANEOUS Geo Mystery Tour: Myths & Legends — A geocaching adventure in the Portage Parks System, Aug. 1–31, with a different mystery revealed every other month; register at mypark. portagemi.gov and click Recreation Activities & Facility Rentals.

Kalamazoo Farmers Market — Featuring over 100 vendors weekly, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesdays, 2–6 p.m. Thursdays, 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays, through October; Night Market, 5–10 p.m. Aug. 18 & Sept. 15; 1204 Bank St.; pfcmarkets.com.

Breakfast with a Biologist — Walk with a Michigan Department of Natural Resources scientist through Gourdneck State Game Area, enjoy a light breakfast and ask questions, 9 a.m.

Aug. 3, starting at Game Area’s Angling Road parking lot (near Vanderbilt Road); registration required, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Richland Farmers’ Market — Local produce, artisans, artists and food trucks, 3–6 p.m.

Wednesdays, through Sept. 7, Richland Community Center, 9400 East CD Ave., Richland, richlandfarmersmarket.weebly.com.

Workout Wednesdays — Free, socially distanced workouts offered by local fitness organizations, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, through August, Bronson Park, downtownkalamazoo.org.

Parade of Homes — In-person and virtual tours of newly constructed homes and a remodeled home, Aug. 4–6 & Aug. 11–13, kalamazoohomepage.com/paradeofhomes.

Historic Walks — Walks discussing local history and architecture: Milwood Neighborhood, begins at Miles Avenue and Portage Street, 8–9:30 a.m. Aug. 5; West Main Historic District, begins at Monroe Street and Grand Avenue, 6:30–8 p.m. Aug. 11; Schoolcraft Township Cemetery, begins at US-131 and West Lyons Street, 6:30–8 p.m. Aug. 25; Kalamazoo libraries, begins at Gazelle Sports, 214 S. Kalamazoo Mall, 8–9:30 a.m. Aug. 26, gazellesports.com/pages/ kalamazoo-historic-walks.

Kalamazoo Rib Fest — Food, entertainment and music, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Aug. 5 & 6, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St., discoverkalamazoo.com.

Summer Park Party — Join Comstock Public Library and Comstock Parks and Recreation for a summer party with foam (hypo–allergenic and safe for kids), music, games and food available, 1–3 p.m. Aug. 6, Merrill Park, 5845 Comstock Ave. Portage Farmers Market — With farmers, vendors and music, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays, through October, outside Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., 329–4522.

Kalamazoo County Youth Fair & Family Festival — Farm animals, educational displays, 4-H exhibits, horse shows, dog show, livestock auction, magic shows, food and more, Aug. 10–13, Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground, 2900 Lake St., 383–8778, kalamazoocountyfair.com.

Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga — For all skill levels of paddleboarding and yoga, 6:30–8 p.m.

Aug. 11, 18 & 25, Ramona Park & Beach, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road; registration required, portagemi. gov/calendar.

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Kalamazoo Food Truck Rally 2022 — 5:30–8:30 p.m. Aug. 12, former Wayside West parking lot, 3406 Stadium Drive, discoverkalamazoo.com.

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Ramona Beach Bonfire — Enjoy the summer night air and live music, with s’mores materials provided, 8 p.m. Aug. 13, Ramona Park, portagemi.gov/calendar.

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Vintage in the Zoo — An outdoor vintage market and handmade goods, with live music, noon–7 p.m. Aug. 13, KVCC’s Anna Whitten Hall, 202 N. Rose St., discoverkalamazoo.com.

Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — Buy, sell or trade a variety of reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and other exotic pets, plus supplies & food, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 20, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, kalamazooreptileexpo.com.

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Vicksburg Vintage Market — Vendors selling a variety of household items, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 21, Vicksburg Pavilion, 300 N. Richardson St., discoverkalamazoo.com.

Paw Prints — Bring your pooch and make one-of-a-kind paw-print art with non-toxic art materials and cleanup materials provided, 4–6 p.m. Aug. 25, South Westnedge Park, 9010 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.

Friday at the Flats — Local food trucks, live music and vendors, 4:30–8:30 p.m. fourth Friday of each month, through September, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage, discoverkalamazoo.com.

Kalamazoo Black Business Expo — Business vendor event showcasing black entrepreneurs, 1–5 p.m. Aug. 27, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, blackwallstreetkalamazoo.org.

Kalamazoo Balloon Fest — Balloons will fly over Richland, with entertainment and family activities available, 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Aug. 27–29, Gull Meadow Farms, 8544 Gull Road, gullmeadowfarms.com.

2022 OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISING EVENT Thursday, September 22, 2022 | 5:30 P.M.

Food Innovation Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College 224 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 Help fund student scholarships by attending the Opportunities for Education event! Guests will enjoy a walk-around tasting under a big tent where they can sample signature dishes from area chefs, students and chefs from the college’s culinary arts program. Tickets are $100 each. For more details, go to www.kvcc.edu/foundation.

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YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ENCORE BACK STORY Rob Oakleaf (continued from page 34) volunteer at a school or transport hazardous materials," he explains.

"I ended up fingerprinting the then-executive director of Ministry with Community, Kendra Stetser Rowe, and we just kind of had an immediate affinity. She asked me, 'Why don't you come down to Ministry?' — she was looking for somebody to help with the business side of things."

Oakleaf began as a part-time administrator at Ministry in 2008, quickly became full time and in two years was running the place, taking over for Rowe when she stepped down. He served as executive director of Ministry for seven years, leaving in 2017. Then, after a stint as the healthy living coordinator with Bronson Healthcare that was curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Oakleaf took the helm for another nonprofit, Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, in November 2020.

"Turns out I'm a very good kind of generalist and have some talent for fixing small nonprofits. I have a little bit of experience in a lot of different things and a sense of how to improve them and will ask for help from people who actually are experts in what they know about.

But, yeah, I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up," he says with a laugh.

How did you end up at Habitat for Humanity?

Somebody once put to me a question that I really liked, which is "Do you like designing the bike, building the bike or riding the bike?"

At Ministry we had gotten to the point where the big things were kind of done. We'd built the new shelter, overhauled programming and designed a software system that allowed us to better track service provisions and understand what the needs of our members were and what we were doing.

That's that riding-the-bike thing — day-to-day administration of an organization does not thrill me. And I don't think I'm particularly good at it. I'll let other people ride the bike (he laughs).

Kalamazoo Valley Habitat was at an important part in its history and evolution and needed someone who wanted to dig in, restructure things and figure out how to make it a truly sustainable and successful nonprofit going into the future.

You started this role during the pandemic. What was that like?

I started when we were still very much dealing with lockdowns. The pandemic really hit the organization hard. It was down to only a few staff members, and we were doing everything over Zoom. That was a really hard way to start a job, as the leader of a team you don't know.

We received some federal support that kept us operating, but our construction activities slowed way down. The world had gone into isolation, and there wasn't the rich tapestry of community partnerships that I had grown accustomed to during my time at Ministry.

It was a kind of a bleak winter that first winter (he laughs), but I expended a lot of energy in hiring, spending the first year almost constantly in a hiring process.

I think an advantage I have — that is also something that drives anybody who works for me crazy — is that I have a high tolerance for

"...Once again, the more work we can do to keep people in the homes that they own, it's better for them, it's better for the neighborhoods, it's better for the community."

— Rob Oakleaf, Executive Director

ambiguity. I'm OK with not knowing everything, with things not being set in stone. I like operating in an environment where there's a lot of change and putting the energy into the group, saying, “We don't know exactly what we're doing because our staff is about 85 percent new, but we have a sense of where we want to go and a sense of what our current resources are. Let's just put it together and figure it out."

I'm really happy to say we're a terrific team. Sometimes the changing of the guard can bring a lot of new energy and optimism and creativity to kind of shake out those old habits and to look at the world in a new way.

How would you describe Habitat's mission?

Affordable housing is a huge issue right now, and that conversation often ends up skewing toward affordable rental units. But in the U.S., the way wealth has traditionally been built has been through home ownership, and systematically people of color and other marginalized groups were denied the opportunity to engage in home ownership, whether through redlining, national mortgage insurance or covenant deeds.

It's about home ownership for us. One of the ways we make that happen is that Habitat holds onto the mortgages for the houses we build. We have over 70 active loans in the community right now. This is not a relationship where we build a house, say “Congratulations, here's your house,” and then move on. It's a relationship that lasts decades and that allows us to be flexible and show grace when people encounter difficulties in life in a way that a traditional mortgage provider might not be willing to.

It's not just building homes. The housing stock in Kalamazoo, especially in the core neighborhoods, is old. Houses that were only meant to stand for 75 years are now 150 years on and have just a ton of challenges. Our critical home repair program works on 13 to 15 homeowner-occupied houses a year, investing between $10,000 and $20,000 and labor into making those homes safe and healthy places to live. That's very often new roofs, new furnaces, new water heaters.

Sometimes it's structural issues. Because, once again, the more work we can do to keep people in the homes that they own, it's better for them, it's better for the neighborhoods, it's better for the community.

—Interview by Marie Lee, edited for length and clarity

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BACK STORY ENCORE

Rob Oakleaf

Executive Director, Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity

Rob Oakleaf became a nonprofit CEO because

of fingerprints.

After Oakleaf graduated in 2001 from Kalamazoo College with a degree in computer science, he worked as a high school computer science teacher, freelance web designer and bartender, among other things.

"I was working part time at this funny job fingerprinting people for non-criminal offenses, say, if you were going to work at a day care or (continued on page 33)

34 | ENCORE AUGUST 2022

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Life onyour terms.

Welcome to Friendship Village, the senior living community connecting you to great friends, good health, active living and personal well-being since 1975.

Our Life Plan community offers you the options you desire: The Village Independent Living Apartment and Garden Homes

One and two-bedroom apartments, plus up to 1,800 square feet Garden Homes, provide a variety of options for everyone.

Woodside Assisted Living and Memory Care

CLUBHOUSE NOW OPEN!

One and two-bedroom apartment suites provide residents with the additional care they need, while retaining independence. Specialized memory care services are available in a secure, home-like setting.

The Health Center Recuperative & Long-term Skilled Nursing Care

Home to our skilled and dedicated staff who have a true passion for our residents. As a recent recipient of the Harrison Award and a Deficiency-Free Rating, our Health Center is known for exceptional care.

The Rehabilitation Center Short-term Rehabilitative Care & Therapy

Our short-term center is open to the public and features 16 private rooms with ensuite baths and a new expansive state-of-the-art therapy department.

VISIT US TODAY! (269) 220-6227 1400 North Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI

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